8 April 2011
The Cushing House Museum
Such a beautiful building with a rich history. I think that every aspect of education was addressed in some way during our tour and what actually seemed like a very well told story of this family, the families of Newbury and Newburyport, and how the waterfront had an impact on them, rather than a tour of the house. History is the most obvious. Economics played a large role in the development of these families and communities with the river and close proximity to the ocean, and therefore the world, by being able to ship goods produced here to any place on the planet that had access to a port. I found the maritime society's "got your back" kind of code a very interesting part of history. I never realized that the captains informed each other of dangerous areas to avoid while sailing and that they looked out for each other in that regard. But I bet they didn't share good spots for fishing to keep the crew fed, or did they? I was particularly interested in the portraits, the stories of the people in them, and the stories of the artists who painted them. One, John Brewster, was an itinerant painter, another, a woman whose name I didn't write down, was a well known contemporary of one of American history's greatest painters John Singer Sargent. Phoebe Herrod who was a dressmaker and kept the remnants of her clients' dress silk fabric to make such a beautiful example of quilting. I so glad we got to experience this wonderful treasure in my town!
Ocean principle is, of course, the one principle that was addressed this evening. We are nourished economically by the ocean and the Merrimac River because of the early shipping trade and the families who established the community because of these two sources of income. But we also, in discussion, learned that we exist in the way we do, with a diet that includes a good portion of fresh seafood, because of our proximity to the ocean.
9 April 2011
Sandy Point State Reservation
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An absolutely beautiful day, all in all. There wasn't one thing bad about it, except maybe the sunburn I got. What a wealth of information both of you are, Garry and Rob. Sandy Point is a place I visit often and had some knowledge about from a naturalist point of view, but this new view of it, it's more than just a beautiful beach with an incredible ecosystem. The principle (2) The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the earth, and Principle 4, The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems, are, I think, the most important to todays activities. The tide pool exploration and watching the barnacles feed was fascinating and something I had never taken the time to do. WOW! such a small wonder. But then the information I learned about the various land forms and how they came to be and how over time, whether centuries or a season is important to me because I guess I'm always wondering how these things happen. Now I know, and intend to share this knowledge with, at the very least my own children, but hopefully with my students as photographers as well. The hike was also an eyeopener for me. I had never been out on those trails, and was completely unaware of the presence of some of the wildlife in, basically, my neighborhood! Wolves and Fischer Cats! The aspect I was really struck by relates to thinking in the way Garry has introduced about Place based learning. I'm feeling smaller everyday, but I know my presence is important to this planet in the things I choose to do and not to do with respect to the environment and all its inhabitants and features. Here is a link to a power point presentation shared with me by a colleague. I found it fascinating. www.earth_from_heaven
10 April 2011 Another absolutely gorgeous Spring morning. And a bit chilly, too. The fact that the places we've visited were used as family homes until, in my estimation, very recently, is truly astonishing to me. This home, the Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm, is another example, as was the Cushing House, of recent use as a real family's home, handed down or sold through generations from the beginnings of this town - my town! - through to today as a place to learn history, agriculture and farming, preservation, the differences and similarities of society then and now, and how we've progressed as a society. I have taken a class here, but I had never been inside and taken on a tour until today. What a fascinating place. I have photographs, but can't seem to get them here! AGAIN! Then we got to do something I've wanted to do for so many Yankee Homecomings - Glee's (and formerly her father's) "Tiptoe Through the Tombstones". I find cemeteries a great place to learn about the people who came to this place, wherever we may be, and how they helped to shape the society as we know it. My older daughter shares this fascination and I will definitely share this experience with her this year during Homecoming week. Some of the stones were so ornately created to enshrine the lives of families and loved ones, and some were so beautifully simple and humble in the same vein, each one a tribute to a human who walked the in same places we do. That in itself is humbling. After discussion and lunch I got to visit a place I've driven by every day for so many decades at this point, and I have wanted to know more about. Lowell"s Boat Shop is a place that I have wanted to know more about and today I got far more than I could have ever wished for. To learn about the simple dory and it's form and function, and the varieties and how and why they evolved, has filled a pocket of historical information I find, again, fascinating. Being an artist, I enjoy creating and building things. This is a place where such activity happens, and has done so, for a good long time. Taking rough materials and designing, shaping and forming them into real and solid form is watching your own ideas take shape and form. And I guess I really like a good story and it's background. This is a place where, if you stand still long enough and let your mind go, you can time travel with ease. Always an enjoyable adventure. Throughout this weekend I have learned so many facts and snippets of history of the places I am each day/week/month/year, and these places now have new and deeper meaning for me. The geologic history, the maritime history, and the social history all make Newburyport and Newbury places I feel more intimate and informed about. This was so much more than a Graduate course for me. It was a personally meaningful learning experience. And I got to meditate on the beach as part of my course of study!
The Cushing House Museum
Such a beautiful building with a rich history. I think that every aspect of education was addressed in some way during our tour and what actually seemed like a very well told story of this family, the families of Newbury and Newburyport, and how the waterfront had an impact on them, rather than a tour of the house. History is the most obvious. Economics played a large role in the development of these families and communities with the river and close proximity to the ocean, and therefore the world, by being able to ship goods produced here to any place on the planet that had access to a port. I found the maritime society's "got your back" kind of code a very interesting part of history. I never realized that the captains informed each other of dangerous areas to avoid while sailing and that they looked out for each other in that regard. But I bet they didn't share good spots for fishing to keep the crew fed, or did they? I was particularly interested in the portraits, the stories of the people in them, and the stories of the artists who painted them. One, John Brewster, was an itinerant painter, another, a woman whose name I didn't write down, was a well known contemporary of one of American history's greatest painters John Singer Sargent. Phoebe Herrod who was a dressmaker and kept the remnants of her clients' dress silk fabric to make such a beautiful example of quilting. I so glad we got to experience this wonderful treasure in my town!
Ocean principle is, of course, the one principle that was addressed this evening. We are nourished economically by the ocean and the Merrimac River because of the early shipping trade and the families who established the community because of these two sources of income. But we also, in discussion, learned that we exist in the way we do, with a diet that includes a good portion of fresh seafood, because of our proximity to the ocean.
9 April 2011
Sandy Point State Reservation
What a wealth of information both of you are, Garry and Rob. Sandy Point is a place I visit often and had some knowledge about from a naturalist point of view, but this new view of it, it's more than just a beautiful beach with an incredible ecosystem. The principle (2) The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the earth, and Principle 4, The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems, are, I think, the most important to todays activities. The tide pool exploration and watching the barnacles feed was fascinating and something I had never taken the time to do. WOW! such a small wonder. But then the information I learned about the various land forms and how they came to be and how over time, whether centuries or a season is important to me because I guess I'm always wondering how these things happen. Now I know, and intend to share this knowledge with, at the very least my own children, but hopefully with my students as photographers as well. The hike was also an eyeopener for me. I had never been out on those trails, and was completely unaware of the presence of some of the wildlife in, basically, my neighborhood! Wolves and Fischer Cats! The aspect I was really struck by relates to thinking in the way Garry has introduced about Place based learning. I'm feeling smaller everyday, but I know my presence is important to this planet in the things I choose to do and not to do with respect to the environment and all its inhabitants and features.
Here is a link to a power point presentation shared with me by a colleague. I found it fascinating. www.earth_from_heaven
10 April 2011
Another absolutely gorgeous Spring morning. And a bit chilly, too. The fact that the places we've visited were used as family homes until, in my estimation, very recently, is truly astonishing to me. This home, the Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm, is another example, as was the Cushing House, of recent use as a real family's home, handed down or sold through generations from the beginnings of this town - my town! - through to today as a place to learn history, agriculture and farming, preservation, the differences and similarities of society then and now, and how we've progressed as a society. I have taken a class here, but I had never been inside and taken on a tour until today. What a fascinating place. I have photographs, but can't seem to get them here! AGAIN!
Then we got to do something I've wanted to do for so many Yankee Homecomings - Glee's (and formerly her father's) "Tiptoe Through the Tombstones". I find cemeteries a great place to learn about the people who came to this place, wherever we may be, and how they helped to shape the society as we know it. My older daughter shares this fascination and I will definitely share this experience with her this year during Homecoming week. Some of the stones were so ornately created to enshrine the lives of families and loved ones, and some were so beautifully simple and humble in the same vein, each one a tribute to a human who walked the in same places we do. That in itself is humbling.
After discussion and lunch I got to visit a place I've driven by every day for so many decades at this point, and I have wanted to know more about. Lowell"s Boat Shop is a place that I have wanted to know more about and today I got far more than I could have ever wished for. To learn about the simple dory and it's form and function, and the varieties and how and why they evolved, has filled a pocket of historical information I find, again, fascinating. Being an artist, I enjoy creating and building things. This is a place where such activity happens, and has done so, for a good long time. Taking rough materials and designing, shaping and forming them into real and solid form is watching your own ideas take shape and form. And I guess I really like a good story and it's background. This is a place where, if you stand still long enough and let your mind go, you can time travel with ease. Always an enjoyable adventure.
Throughout this weekend I have learned so many facts and snippets of history of the places I am each day/week/month/year, and these places now have new and deeper meaning for me. The geologic history, the maritime history, and the social history all make Newburyport and Newbury places I feel more intimate and informed about. This was so much more than a Graduate course for me. It was a personally meaningful learning experience. And I got to meditate on the beach as part of my course of study!
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